Friday, 28 September 2012

Bittern and Twisted…… Not Me!!

Seven and a half hours in North Marsh hide waiting for a
Bittern, and nothing! Some would say that was dedication, others that I am
going mad! And all because of those fantastic photos on Richard Hampshire’sTophill Blog. Bittern’s have always been a bogie bird for me, with the best
shot I have taken at Potteric Carr a couple of years ago.

Record shot of Bittern from Potteric Carr

The morning session went slowly with little to report other
than gangs of other birdwatchers dropping in for short periods of time. Some
quite considerate, others not so.

After a quick bite to eat I was joined by that other
celebrated “Jonah”, Tony Simpson. We sat quietly but nothing happened until we
were joined by John Leasson late in the afternoon. Still no Bittern, but within minutes we had our
first of two Kingfisher visits (male and female), followed by a sighting of a Peregrine, a Hobby scaring
the be-Jesus out of some Black-Headed Gulls, a juvenile Marsh Harrier, and
finally a swimming Grass Snake – something I haven’t before seen this late in
the year. Next time I go out I might have to see what John is doing….

Our male visitor

Our female visitor

On the hunt...

Just tasting the air....

Trying the nearside bank...

Today was just one of those days I guess. Sometimes you
strike lucky, other times you have to put up with the frustration. At least I
was out in the countryside and among enjoyable company. Perhaps next time my luck will
be better and I will get to see that damned elusive Bittern!

2 comments:

You might not have seen your target bird but that sounds to me like a great day's birding with the other species you so.What a bonus to see the grass snake swimming.PS Rossall is half a mile south of the marine lake at Fleetwood.

Hi Martin. Yes it was a good day out, just disappointed about the Bittern after seeing those terrific photos. I will keep trying, and hope I'll be luck soon. With any luck the bird will now stay for the winter - we think it has come in from the Continent.